Zalala Hashimi, Afghan singer missing for over two weeks in Kabul, her fate remains unknown. #WhereIsZalala
Zalala Hashimi, a Pashto singer and finalist in Season 12 of Afghan Star, has been missing for over two weeks in Kabul. Her husband reported that she left home to visit a friend but never returned. Efforts to locate her have failed, and both her friend and family claim no knowledge of her whereabouts.
Zalala, like many other women artists, was forced into silence. Despite having a chance to leave the country, she stayed in Kabul due to her responsibilities as a wife and mother. In Taliban ideology, female performers are viewed with contempt and labeled as immoral—effectively rendering their lives disposable.
A blurry video clip circulating online, allegedly showing Zalala walking and running, is being used by Taliban-affiliated sources to claim she left willingly. However, there is no credible evidence supporting this version, and observers believe it is part of a broader effort to normalize her disappearance and deflect suspicion from those in power.
International institutions such as UNAMA, deeply embedded in Kabul’s political landscape, have responded with nothing more than routine “expressions of concern.” Many Afghans accuse these organizations of complicity, claiming they prioritize backdoor diplomacy with Taliban leaders over the safety and rights of the Afghan people—especially women.
As fear and frustration grow, activists are calling for urgent international pressure and real accountability. Zalala Hashimi’s case is not an isolated one—it is a reflection of the terror imposed on Afghan women under a regime that the world continues to tolerate.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021—installed with the backing of the United States—Afghanistan has become a living hell for women. Under Taliban rule, women have been systematically erased from public life, banned from education, employment, and artistic expression, and subjected to severe restrictions that have pushed many into desperation.